Climate Resilient Crop Varieties among Southern Highlands Smallholder Farmers: A Five-Year Adoption Protocol in Uganda

The Southern Highlands of Uganda are characterized by unpredictable climate conditions that pose significant challenges to smallholder farmers' livelihoods. These regions experience frequent droughts and floods, necessitating the development of resilient crop varieties. The study will employ participatory rural appraisal methods, farmer focus groups, and household surveys to collect data on farming practices, climate conditions, and crop varieties used by farmers. Data analysis will use descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis. During the first year of implementation, initial pilot studies showed a mixed response from farmers regarding the new crop varieties' performance under local climatic conditions. The five-year adoption protocol demonstrated that incorporating farmer feedback into the development process significantly improved variety acceptance rates. Future research should focus on scaling up these resilient crops to broader regions in Uganda and beyond. Policy makers should prioritise funding for climate-resilient crop varieties, while agricultural extension services need to be strengthened to facilitate effective dissemination of new technologies.